Ming City Wall Ruins Park (Xibianmen Small Park)

Ming City Wall Ruins Park (Xibianmen Small Park)

Ming City Wall Ruins Park (Xibianmen Small Park) is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level, and a patriotic education base.

Historically, the Ming city wall stretched 40 kilometers in total. It was built in the 17th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1419 AD), making it over 580 years old. The existing section of the wall ruins from Chongwenmen to the southeastern corner tower spans 1.5 kilometers. It is part of the original inner city wall of Beijing, the only remaining segment, and a symbol of the city. Its southeastern corner tower is the largest surviving city wall corner tower in China. It was built in the first year of the Zhengtong reign of the Ming Dynasty (1436 AD) and is a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.

Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park is located in the city center. It stretches from the southeastern corner tower in the east to Chongwenmen in the west. The total area of Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park is approximately 15.5 hectares, including 3.3 hectares occupied by the wall ruins and the southeastern corner tower, and 12.2 hectares of green space.

Due to years of neglect and human damage, the wall had deteriorated severely. To protect this cultural heritage and restore the ancient capital’s appearance, the Beijing Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, guided by important ideological principles, decided to comprehensively renovate the surrounding environment of the wall ruins, restore the wall, and build the Ming City Wall Ruins Park.

Park Protection

Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park had suffered from years of neglect and human damage, leading to severe deterioration of the wall. To protect this cultural heritage and restore the ancient capital’s appearance, the Beijing Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, guided by important ideological principles, decided to comprehensively renovate the surrounding environment of the wall ruins, restore the wall, and build Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park.

Greening Implementation of Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park

The greening plan was designed by the Beijing Institute of Landscape and Architectural Design and constructed by the Chongwen District Gardening Bureau. The park’s construction prioritizes the protection of the wall, creating a rustic and ancient natural environment that fully showcases the cultural essence and historical charm of the ancient capital’s wall. The completed Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park is simple, unadorned, and elegant. Combining the natural features of the wall ruins and the unique styles of various green zones, it features scenic areas such as “Ancient Trees and Clear Walls,” “Strolling Along the Ruins,” and “Old Tower with New Charm” from west to east. The preservation of the wall ruins focuses mainly on maintaining their current state and reinforcing them against risks, with minimal restoration, to retain the wall’s authenticity to the greatest extent. Standing beneath the wall, one can’t help but feel a deep sense of history and time.

On August 17, 2002, the overall greening construction project of Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park officially commenced. Currently, the main construction of the Ming City Wall Ruins Park has been completed. Civil engineering works within the park, along with the relocation of supporting infrastructure such as telecom cables, high-voltage overhead lines, and street lighting, have been finished. During the construction, over 200 ancient trees originally on the site were preserved. The park was planted with deciduous trees, primarily Chinese scholar trees, accented with ginkgo and pine, as well as flowering species like peach, apricot, and crabapple that complement the atmosphere of the Ming city wall. On the undulating micro-terrain, 12.2 hectares of lawn were laid out, forming open and unobstructed sightlines.

Park Features

The park employs a minimalist design approach to highlight the beauty of the wall’s fragmented state. Strolling through the park, visitors are surrounded by ancient trees and lush greenery, while the continuous, ancient Ming city wall and solemn corner towers seem to recount the nation’s storied past. Scenic spots such as “Ancient Trees and Clear Walls,” “Strolling Along the Ruins,” “Old Tower with New Charm,” and “Parapets Cloaked in Greenery” are rich in history and cultural significance, reflecting the deep cultural heritage of Chongwen and sparking boundless imagination.

Park Culture

The Ming city wall ruins from Dongbianmen to Chongwenmen are one of only two remaining sections of the Ming city wall within Beijing. They serve as an important symbol of the city’s historical development. The southeastern corner tower is a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level, while the rest of the wall ruins are protected sites under Beijing Municipality. This section of the wall was initially built during the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty and underwent renovations in both the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Due to historical reasons, much of the protected land was occupied by institutions and residential buildings. The wall ruins had deteriorated over time, suffering severe damage. Buried pipelines posed safety risks to residents’ lives and property, marred the urban landscape, and impacted the capital’s image.

To preserve the ancient capital’s appearance and improve local living conditions, the municipal government decided to repair the wall, comprehensively renovate the surrounding environment, build the Ming City Wall Ruins Park, and properly address local housing issues. The vacating project for Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park was one of the 60 practical projects undertaken by the Beijing Municipal Government in 2002 for public benefit and ranked as the top project among the district’s four major initiatives. In September 2003, the first phase of Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park was completed. - , - , Wan Li, - , as well as then Party Secretary - and Mayor - , visited the park for inspection.

Park Significance

Ming City Wall Ruins Park

The newly built Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins prioritize the protection of the wall and aim to showcase its authentic appearance, providing citizens with a serene, natural, rustic, and evocative environment. A lush, enclosed green belt will be formed on the north side of the wall, while the design of pathways and plant arrangements on the south side emphasizes simplicity and elegance. The preservation of the wall ruins focuses mainly on maintaining their current state and reinforcing them against risks, with minimal restoration, to retain the wall’s original condition to the greatest extent. Standing beneath the wall, one can’t help but feel a profound sense of history and time.

Additionally, Ming City Wall Ruins Park serves as one of the main venues for large-scale cultural events in Chongwen District. From September 29 to October 4, 2003, the park hosted the first Beijing Ming City Wall Culture and Sports Festival & Investment & Trade Fair, themed “The Charm of the Ancient Wall, the Vitality of Chongwen.”

In 2003, Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park was named a Beijing Premium Park.

Address: No. 9, Chongwenmen East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Type: Urban Park & Historical Site

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

Phone: 010-65270574

Opening Hours:

Monday: 8:00–17:00

Admission:

City wall: Free; Southeast Corner Tower: Adults 10 RMB, Students 5 RMB.